Variable condenser



March 13, 1928.

G. `LOMBARDI VARIABLE coNDENsER Filed Dec. 1o, 1924 @HM mucus PatentedMar. 13, 1928.

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GIOVANNI LOMBARDI, F DERBYfCOtlNECTICUT.

VARIABLE oonnnnsnn. s

Application filed Decembcrl, 1924. Serial No. 754,968.

This invention relates to vvariable-eondensers, and has for an objectftoprovide a plurality of means for adjusting the movable plates, one ofwhich may be usedfor a rapid i or rough adjustment and the other to givea fine or micrometer adjustment.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved mountingfor the plates to always maintain them in properalignment. 1

`With the foregoing and other objects in view, I have devised theconstruction illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part ofthis specification,` similar reference characters heilig employedthroughout the various figures to indicate corresponding elements. Inthis drawing,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section throng a variable condenser showing oneembodiment of my invention', the dial and operatingA knobs being shownin elevation, and the seetionbeing taken substantially on line 1,-1 ofFig. 2, and

Fig. 2 is a rear end elevation of the device.

As is usual in condensers of this type, it comprises a` frame consistingof outer and inner web Plates and V11 respectively connected by rods orposts 12 which carry the 30 stationary condenser plates 13 in properspaced relation. In the present construction the rods or posts 12 areinsulated from the plates 10 and 11 by insulating washers 14 andbushings 15. The condenser may-be secured to the rear of a panel board16 by any suitable means, such as a nut 17 threaded on a tubular sleeve22 secured to the outer plate 10 by clamping the plate between a collar18 and a nut 23 threaded on the sleeve 22. The

collar 18 also engages the rear of panel 16 so that the panel is clampedbetween the col-y lar andthe nut 17. j'

Mounted between the web plates 10 and 11 is a rotary shaftr19 carryingthe movable condenser vplates 20 insuitable spaced relation, andinterleaved with but spaced from the stationary plates 13. I haveprovided a plurality of means for rotating this shaft to vary theposition ofthe movable plates with respect to the stationary plates tovary the capacity of the condenser.y In the present construction theshaft 19 is a tubular shaft and a second shaft 21 extends through thistubular shaft. Extending' through the outer plate 10 is the sleeve 2Qwhich is secured to the plate as above described by a suitable nut 28and collar 18 threaded on the sleeve aud clamped against the' oppositesides of` the plate 10 to secure the sleeve in position. This sleeveforms a bearing forthe outer shaft 19 and it also has a tapered bearingQtat its inner `end eoacting with a similarly tapered bearing carried bya collar 25 secured to the shaft 19. The shaft 19 is free to rotate onshaft 21. This inner shaft at its .inner end projects .into abearing-block 26 secured to the inner plate 11 as by means of a'fnut 27`threaded to the block and clamping 1t to the plate. This block has asocket 28 into which the end of the shaft 21 projects, and a thrustbearing including a ball 29 is mounted in the socket and is held againstthe end ofthe shaft by a spring 30. lf preferred a plunger 31 may beinserted between the spring and the ball to give a better bear` ing forthe ball, and the end of the shaft is preferably provided with a socketin which the ball is seated. rIhe inner endfof the outer shaft 19 isprovided` with a tapered bearing $2 fitting a similarly tapered bearingon a pinion 38 secured to the inner shaft 21 as by a pin 3ft. It willt-hus be apparent that the spring acting through the inner shaft and thebearing 32 will tend to hold the shaft 19 against the tapered bearing24. Thus as vthe bearing 24 wears the wear will be automatically takenup bythe action of the spring, and as the bearing is tapered the shaftwill always be maintained in proper alignment, and therefore, cannot tipto allow theV movable condenser plates 20 to either get out ofparallelism with the stationary plates 17 orcome in contact therewith.The lateral movement ofthe plates caused by longitudinal movement oftheshaftr as the tapered bearing wears may be compensated for by adjustingthe sleeve 22 in plate 10. The ball thrust bearing at the inner end ofthe inner shaft gives very little resistance and allows easymanipulation of the shaft.

` Pivoted to the inner web plate 11 at 35 is a link or arm 36 whichcarriesa pin or stud 37. Mounted to rotate on this pin wor stud is asleeve 37 carrying a gear 38 secured theretoby any` suitable means as apin 38. Also carried by the sleeve 37 is a pinion 39 meshing with a gear40 on the outer shaft 19. A spring 39 is lcarried by the lower rod orpost12 and engages its pivot 35 as viewed in Fig. 2r and retain the tivohsets of gears 32%38 and 239-10 tightly in mesh and eliminates any backlash due to vvear or incorrect' meshing of the nears. The shat't 1,9inlay .rota-te rela tive .to the gear it). hut the gear is, however.connected to the shatt in such a wav that ity may .nider certainconditions act as a driving' means tor the shatt'. In the present'construction this arrangement is secured by mountingr on the shaftv yanalinitment. as a washer 11, held in position hv -a `nut i12 threaded onthe shat't, which ivasherengages one side olE the gear tt. and on theopposite side a curved spring' plate or washer i3 en t gages the gearand is heid 'in position h v a nut A't-t threaded on the shatt. Thusthere is' provided a 'tirictional drive between the gear 4t). and theshaft. vhich drive under certain conditions ivill allow the shaft torotate imlependentliv ot1 `the gear.

At the front' or outer side ot' the pa'nei 1G a oial 45 having a thumblcnoh 4G is r'igridljv secured to the outer shaft 1S) and the surface otthe knob is pret'ei'al'ily linurled to facilitate its operation. rl`heend o't the inner shaft' :2l extends through the dial and knob ',ttt.and rigidly secured to its outer end is a. second knob -tT which isindependent, ot the tirst knob and is used to operate the inner shaft.in the constriuftion illustrated one lead wire may he connected to thesta tionanv plates h v binding post'. 48 and the. other lead ivire tothe movable plates h v binding post 49.

in operation the rough or (puck adjustmentsv ot the movable plates i2()ma)7 be secured by rotating' the knob tti which will rotate the outershaft i!) carrying;r the movable plates'. in this operation the Areartrain lllt). $35). 3S. and 33 does not interfere with the operation o'l`this shaft hecanse the lriet'ional connection, includingr the springplate Alil. between the gear t() and the shaft' will slip and Willallovv the shaft t'o rotate indeimmlentlv ot the gear 4t). This spring:will also serve to maintain the shaft' and the platesv securer'l thereh\v in the adjusted positions. t'ter this rough adjustment has heensecured the tine or micrometer adjustment may he secured h v rotating?Ythe knob 17. Rotation of this knob will rotate the inner shatt .l andthe pinion 33 which will rotate p'iiar 3S. sleeve 3T. pinion it() andlgear iitt. which gear. through its tirietiional connection with theshaft if), will rotate this sha'tt to further adjust' t'he movableplates 2t), As thisy gear train, however, is a reducing' drive arelativel)r large turning movemovement'` ot the iinoh 47 will herequired to give a relatively small movement of the outer shaft 1t) andthe plates carried thereb v so that a very tine adjustment may hesecured.

It is to be noted that 'with this construction I am enabled tio use aplurality of adjusting means tor the movable condenser plates. and thatdifferent an'iounts of movements of the. operating knobs will givedifferent. amounts of adjustments to the plates. Tv'ith the `slip driveas described no manipulation required ot' a clutch or other con necting'and discomurctinftr means in changing from Ione .adjusting means to theother. In other words, all the operator has to do in nail-:ing theadjustn'ient is to grip either the iiinoh liti or i7 and rotate it untilhe gets the :utjustmen't de;-ired. Bv plaringthe gear drive asillustrated it does not in any av'ajr interfere ivilh the dial and Ysodoes` noty limit the size ot the dial in ani1 ivajv. and 'turu thermore,the dial is located central vi'ith respect to the i'rperatingv shafts.Also hy placing these gears on the inside oit' the plate ll I am enabledto use the hall thrnst hearing' for the shat't ill as descrilaal above.Furthermore. the means of mounting the movable plates heel-i1v them inproper position.y and what adjustment is required hecause o'l" wear is avery simple one.

Having thus set forth the 'nature of my invention, what I claim is:

l. in a device of the character described, a 4pair of eonceiitricsha'ltts, independent means for operatingr said shafts, spaced supports7cooperating' tapered thrust hearings carried hy the outer shaft and 'oneet said supports, means carried hy the other support 'having a chamberreceivinzgr 'the end of the inner shaft, and a reducing?r driving-connection between the shafts.

In a device of the character described, a pair ot concentric shafts,inilependeut means for operating the sl'ia't'ts, a. 'pair of spacedsupports cooperatingr tapered thrust.- bearings carried b v the outershaft and one of the supports. means carried Ihy the other support:i'raving` a chamber into which the. end of the inner sha tit; projects,a hall thrust', hearingv in said chamber. and a reducing drivinprconnection between 'the shafts.

3. In a device of the character described, a pair ot concentric shafts,independentl meansl 'lor operating' t'he sha'l'ts. spaced Supports`cooperatingr tapered thrust; hearings carried hy the outer shaft and oneof said supports, means carried hy the other support having a chamberinto `which the end of the inner shaft, projects, a bali 'thrustbearingr in said chamber, a` sprinff in the chamber tending to force thebalia against the end o'f: the shaft, and a reducing driving connectionbetween the shafts.

4. In a device of the vcharacter described, concentric shafts,independent means for operating the shafts, spaced supports, cooperatingtapered thrust hearings carried by the outer shaft and one of thesupports, cooperating tapered thrust bearings carried by the twoshaft/s, a thrust; bearing for the inner shaft carried by the othersupport, and

loa

a reducing driving connection between the two shafts.

5. In a device of the character described, concentric shafts,independent means for operating the shafts, spaced supports, cooperatingtapered. thrust bearings carried by the outer' shaft and one of thesupports, cooperating tapered thrust bearings carried by the two shafts,a yieldable thrust bearing for the inner shaft on the other supporttending to press the cooperating tapered bearings together', and areducing driving connection between the shafts.

6. In a device of the character described, a pair of concentric shafts,independent means for operating the shafts, a support, cooperatingthrust bearings carried by the outer shaft and said support, cooperatingthrust bearings carried by the shafts, resilient means tending to forcesaid bearings together, and a reducing driving connection between theshafts.

7. In a device of the character described, a pair of concentric shafts,independent means for operating the shafts, a support, cooperatingtapered thrust ybearings carried by the outer shaft and said support,cooperating thrust bearings carried by the two shafts, a reducingdriving connection between the shafts, and resilient means tending topress the cooperating tapered thrust bearings together.

8. In a device of the character described, a pair of concentric shafts,independent means for operating the shafts, a pair of spaced supports,cooperating tapered thrust bearings carried by the outer shaft and oneof the supports, a thrust bearing for the inner shaft carried by theother support, resilient means tending to press said bearing against theshaft, and a reducing driving connection between the shafts.

9. In a device of the character described, a pair of concentric shafts,independent means for operating the shafts, spaced supports, cooperatingtapered thrust bearings Y carried by the outer shaft and one of saidsupports, means carried by the other support having a chamber into whichthe end of the inner shaft projects, a thrust bearing in said chamber,resilient means in the chamber tending to force the bearing against theend of the shaft, and a reducing driving connection between the shafts.

10. In a device of the character described, a pair of concentric shafts,independent means for operating the shafts, a pair of spaced supports,cooperating thrust bearings on the supports4 and the respective shafts,a gear secured to the outer shaft between said supports by a frictionalconnection adapted to allow independent movement of the shaft, a pinioncarried by the inner shaft, a movable support pivoted to one of thefirst mentioned supports to move toward and from said shafts, aconnected gear and pinion carried by said movable support meshing withthe first mentioned gear 'and pinion respectively, and a spring tendingto swing the movable support about its pivot and retain the respectivegears and pinions in mesh.

11. In a device of the character described, a` pair of concentricshafts, independent means for operating the shafts, a pair of spacedsupports,y cooperating thrust bearings carried by the outer shaft andone of the supports, cooperating thrust bearings between the shafts, athrust bearingfor the inner shaft carried by the other support, a gearsecured to the outer shaft .between said supports by a frictionalconnection adapted to allow independent movement of the shaft, a pinioncarried by the` inner shaft, a support mounted between the firstsupports to move toward and from said shafts, a connected gear andpinion carried by said movable `support meshing withy the firstmentioned gear and pinion respectively, and yieldable means tending tomove the latter support toward the shafts to` maintain the respectivegears and pinions in mesh.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature. y GIOVANNI LOMBARDI.

